Dental impressions are a crucial component of dental treatments, providing the necessary precision and accuracy for delivering exceptional results. This blog explores the differences between physical and digital dental impressions, helping dental professionals make informed decisions for optimal care.
Physical Impressions
Physical dental impressions have been the standard for decades, using materials like alginate or silicone to manually mould a patient’s teeth. This traditional method captures detailed tooth structures but has a few challenges.
Advantages:
- Precision: Accurate detail capture of teeth and surrounding structures.
- Cost-effective: More affordable compared to digital solutions.
- Familiarity: Widely known and trusted by dental professionals.
Disadvantages:
- Patient Discomfort: Some patients may find the impression trays uncomfortable.
- Risk of Distortion: Potential for distortion during transit or handling.
- Time-consuming: The process can take longer and requires additional steps.
Digital Impressions
Digital impressions, on the other hand, use intraoral scanners to create a 3D digital model of the teeth, eliminating the need for traditional impression materials. This innovative technology streamlines the process and offers precise results.
Advantages:
- Comfortable for Patients: No physical materials are required, enhancing patient comfort.
- Improved Accuracy: Digital impressions offer high precision with fewer chances of error.
- Time-efficient: Faster and more efficient compared to traditional methods.
Disadvantages:
- High Initial Costs: Intraoral scanners can be expensive to purchase.
- Learning Curve: Some practitioners may need time to become familiar with the technology.
- Reliability: Dependence on technology can be a drawback if the system encounters technical issues.
The Process of Dental Impressions
Traditional Method
In the traditional approach, impression materials like alginate or silicone are manually placed into an impression tray and fitted into the patient’s mouth. After setting, the tray is removed to create a physical mould of the teeth.
- Materials: Commonly used materials include alginate and silicone putty, which form a malleable substance capable of capturing detailed tooth impressions.
- Procedure: The practitioner places the filled impression tray in the patient’s mouth, ensuring that all necessary areas are covered. Once the material sets, the tray is removed, and the mould is used to create a plaster model for further treatment planning.
- Considerations: While effective, this method may cause discomfort for patients, and factors like saliva or movement during setting can affect the final result.
Digital Method
Digital impressions are made using an intraoral scanner, which captures real-time images of the teeth and gums to create a 3D digital model.
- Intraoral Scanners: These devices use optical sensors and cameras to capture highly detailed images of the teeth.
- Scanning Process: The scanner is moved inside the patient’s mouth, capturing multiple images to create a 3D model in real-time.
- Real-Time Adjustments: Unlike traditional methods, digital impressions allow for immediate adjustments to the scan without needing additional impression material.
- Accuracy and Efficiency: Digital impressions offer enhanced precision and reduce the time spent in the chair, improving the overall patient experience.
Applications of Dental Impressions
| Applications | Physical Impressions | Digital Impressions |
| Dentures | Yes | Yes |
| Crowns | Yes | Yes |
| Clear Aligners | Yes | Yes |
| Scanners | Yes | Yes |
| Bridges | Yes | Yes |
| Orthodontic Appliances | Yes | Yes |
Which One Is Right For You?
Choosing between physical and digital dental impressions depends on factors such as patient comfort, the complexity of the procedure, and practitioner expertise. While traditional methods remain useful, digital impressions are particularly beneficial for complex procedures due to their accuracy and time-saving advantages. Digital impressions are gaining traction in modern dental laboratories due to the enhanced precision and ability to easily connect and send digital scans to a dental laboratory.
Understanding the differences between these methods helps both dental professionals and patients make better choices, leading to optimal outcomes for dental treatments.
Connect with Andent Dental Lab
Whilst our dental lab offers both digital and traditional impression services to cater to your needs, with digital impressions, you can send scans directly to our lab from leading intraoral scanners. Learn more about our digital dentistry services here.
At Andent, we offer more than just dental lab services—we bring experience and expertise that translate into better results for both you and your patients. We look forward to partnering with you and building a relationship that we truly value.
Contact Us: Have any questions or need assistance? Contact our team today, and let’s start working together to achieve exceptional outcomes.
